Why Magic’s Jase Richardson can’t stop ‘crying laughing’ after Dunk Contest fail

Orlando Magic rookie Jase Richardson gave fans at the Intuit Dome a massive scare on Saturday night, but fortunately, he is leaving Los Angeles with nothing more than a bruised ego and a viral moment.

While attempting his second dunk of the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Richardson suffered a terrifying fall that saw him hit the back of his head on the hardwood. Despite the scary optics, the young guard quickly took to social media to reveal he has been “crying laughing” at the replay.

I’ve been crying laughing for the past hour https://t.co/3rxhHUFFNu

— Jase Richardson (@JaseRich4) February 15, 2026

Richardson, the son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson, entered the night looking to keep the family legacy alive. He opened the contest with a solid 45.4 after flushing a clean reverse slam on a bounce-oop to himself.

However, he needed a huge score on his second attempt to keep pace with Keshad Johnson and Carter Bryant. Richardson opted for a 360 tomahawk off the side of the backboard, but he misjudged the angle, getting stuffed by the board before crashing hard to the floor.

After a few tense moments, the former Michigan State star was able to get up under his own power. He even finished the round with a safe 360 slam to register a score, though his 43.4 on the attempt effectively ended his night. Richardson finished last in the field of four with a total score of 88.8, trailing Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Orlando Magic guard won’t be adding a trophy to the mantle alongside his father’s, his ability to find the humor in the “backboard block” has already won over social media. With Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson eventually taking home the crown, Richardson is just happy to be healthy and heading back to Orlando with a story to tell.

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